Where does “cynically” come from?
Cynically derives from English cynic, from Middle French cinicque, from Latin cynicus, from Ancient Greek κυνικός, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm, related to Ancient Greek κύων meaning dog.
cynically (English): in a cynical manner
Definitions
- in a cynical manner
Ancestry of “cynically”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Cynical | Of or relating to the Cynics, a sect of Ancient... |
| 2 | English | Cynic | A member of a sect of Ancient Greek philosophers... |
| 3 | Middle English | cynike | — |
| 4 | French | cynique | cynical; canine; cynic |
| 5 | Latin | Cynicus | Cynic |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Κυνικός | a Cynic |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | -ικός | of or pertaining to, in the manner of; -ic |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | -κός | forms adjectives with the sense of 'of or... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -ḱos | -y, -ic |